BUZZ CLUBS

Celebrate as a way to mourn

The latest nightclub to change its skin is Highland Grounds, a sweet spot with an easy feel that kept our ears and bellies full for 15 years. Owners Rich and Leslie Brenner have their hands full with restaurants (Hugo’s) and are looking to simplify their lives. In January, the club transitions into a DJ-driven bar called D!VE, but you can pay your respects to H.G. and the Brenners on Friday night as they celebrate “The Day the Music Died,” with a final night of live music featuring regular Michael McCarthy and a host of others. In the past, the Brenners gave the room to such talent as the Brothers Figaro, Chuck E. Weiss and Poe. The couple hit Hollywood from Chicago in the late 1980s, bringing an affinity for blues and now we’ll be singing them.

A man about downtown

Tony Gower’s on fire. The former owner of the Derby is debuting his latest nightclub Bordello on Saturday night with an appearance by Derby mainstays Royal Crown Revue, who will perform two one-hour sets. The makeover of the spot formerly known as Little Pedro’s on 1st Street comes courtesy of co-owner Dana Hollister, who is a set designer for players such as Tim Burton and Madonna. Gower and Elizabeth Peterson, who is also a partner in Bordello, also have two other ventures in the heart of the thriving downtown L.A. arts district. To wit: the new restaurant-nightclub Royal Claytons (located at 1855 Industrial at a former toy factory) and the medieval-style British beer garden the Bridge Tavern (set to open at 1356 Palmetto in late February)....A little birdie tells us that Cedd Moses (downtown kingpin) and Mark Verge (Westside kingpin) are teaming up to do biz downtown in 2007. Verge already owns downtown’s Casey’s Bar & Grill, the Hideout in Santa Monica and Westside Rentals, and Moses owns downtown’s Golden Gopher and Broadway Bar, as well as the upcoming Seven Grand.... Tom Waits hit the Bigfoot Lodge in Atwater Village on Thursday for the Epitaph Records annual Christmas bash.... The Cobalt Club in the Valley was seething with punkers on Sunday, feasting on the holiday spirit to hard-core thrashers Pulley and Strung Out. Pulley features the only retired Dodger to front a punk band (singer and ex-relief pitcher Scott Radinsky), and Strung Out has a first-rate package deal in singer-art director Jason Cruz, who designs all the merch for the band. You can check out Cruz’s wares at www.amerikanblackheart.com.... And speaking of scenes: The Wheels for Humanity “Punk Rock Karaoke” benefit raised $21,000. Among the evening’s highlights: Pennywise singer Jim Lindberg pimping an advance copy of his upcoming book, “Punk Rock Dad” (HarperCollins); skate-punk legend Duane Peters singing impromptu backup vocals; and Alkaline Trio frontman Matt Skiba nailing Black Flag’s “Gimme Gimme Gimme.”